William W. Field

William Wells Field (October 31, 1824 – April 5, 1907) was an American farmer and politician. He was the 16th speaker of the Wisconsin State Assembly and served a total of six years in the Assembly, representing Grant County. In historical documents he is frequently referred to as W. W. Field.

Early life and family William Wells Field was born in the town of Lancaster, New Hampshire, one of six children born to Abel Waite Field and his wife, Sally. He is a descendant of William Field, an early settler at the Massachusetts Bay Colony. His contemporaries Marshall Field and Cyrus Field were distant cousins.

Field's father was a farmer and paid for his education at the Lancaster Academy. After finishing his education, Field taught for three years, then moved to Medford, Massachusetts, in 1845, where he worked as a farm laborer. After two years of farm labor, he relocated to Belfast, Maine, where he worked in the marble trade. He married Mahala Jane Howe on October 31, 1850.

During the American Civil War, Field was a vocal proponent of the Union cause. He was returned to the Assembly in 1862, and was re-elected to the 1863, 1864, and 1865 sessions, serving as Speaker in the 1864 and 1865 sessions, when he presided over the National Union Party majority. He was a presidential elector for Abraham Lincoln in the 1864 United States presidential election.

Iowa career In 1879, Field left Wisconsin for Iowa. He bought a large tract of land in Wheeler Township, in Sac County, and developed the land until 1892. At that point he relocated to the town of Odebolt. He was one of the founders of the First National Bank of Odebolt, and was the first president of the bank. He also served as vice president and president of Iowa's State Agricultural Society. He was an advocate for the farmers of the state and worked to expand the adoption of improved farming methods.

Death William Field died in April 1907, in Sac County.